5. Cassidy
CASSIDY
I felt a little breathless as I heard Harle’s truck pulling into my drive. Don’t be ridiculous. He’s probably not even as hot as you remember.
Ha, as if. The moment he climbed out of his truck, what little breath I had left whooshed from my lungs. He was even hotter than I remembered.
I watched from behind the curtain as he walked up the drive. How ridiculous was it that just the simple act of walking was sexy when he did it. He took the steps two at a time and then his frame filled my porch. His broad shoulders cast a shadow across my door. My heart skipped a few beats, and I pressed a hand to my sternum as if that could somehow calm it down.
Honestly, there was no need to get so flustered. This was all just biology. Cold, clinical baby-making. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry.
The knock came, three sharp raps that seemed to echo through my entire body. I jumped, startled, even though I was expecting it.
“Coming!” I called out, wincing at how high and breathy my voice sounded.
I fluffed at my hair, for no particular reason, then dragged in a deep, steadying breath. It didn’t work. My hands shook as I reached for the doorknob.
It’s fine. You’ve done this before. He’s just here to... to...
My mind blanked on the clinical terms as I swung the door open. Harle. Smiling down at me.
“Hey, Cassidy.” His deep voice skittered across my skin, raising goosebumps. His eyes roved over me, taking in my figure hugging, burgundy knit dress. I might have been imagining it, but maybe a bit of heat flickered there? No, of course not. When he raised his eyes to mine, his expression was perfectly neutral. “You look great. Are you going out?”
“Um, yeah, just with the girls. Did you want to come in for coffee?”
“No, it’s okay.”
Oh. Well. That felt a bit awkward. “Of course, no problem. I understand you’re probably busy.”
Harle’s lips quirked up in a half-smile. “Not too busy. Just figured you’d want to, uh, take advantage of the viability window.” He handed over an insulated bag and yeah, I felt the zap of electricity when our fingers brushed. “You said the first hour was the most important, right?”
“Right, yeah.” Jesus, why did I always blush so much around this guy? I smoothed my hand down my dress again, suddenly hyper-aware of how form-fitting it was. “Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem.” He leaned against the door frame and folded his arms across his chest. “I actually had an idea about that.”
“About stopping by?” Huh?
“Yeah.”
My heart rate picked up again. “Oh?”
“Yeah, I was thinking...” He rubbed the back of his neck, like he was nervous. Well, that was very fucking endearing. “I understand that two or three tries during the ovulation window can be really helpful.”
Never, in my life, did I imagine I would be standing at my front door discussing my ovulation window with a giant, incredibly hot, Viking. “Uh, yes. That’s correct.”
“So, on that basis, would you like me to come by tomorrow? With another sample, I mean.”
The words hung in the air between us for a moment while I blinked, processing what he’d said. I guess I looked a little confused, because he continued, “I know the agreement only includes once per month, but I’ve got nothing else on, so it’s no hassle.”
“Oh! Um, yes. That would be... that would be great.”
There was that smile again. “Great. What time works for you?”
I mentally scanned my schedule for the next day. “How about around three? I have a light day at the office so I can get back early.”
“Three it is.” He took a step back, still smiling. “Have fun tonight, Cassidy.”
“Thanks, Harle. See you tomorrow.”
I held the door slightly ajar as he walked back to his truck. I mean, who wouldn’t? The back view was almost as good as the front. It was only when he was backing down the drive that I closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a long exhale.
Tomorrow. Three O’clock. Another chance.
I pushed off from the door, heading to my bedroom.
Slipping my panties off, I sat on the edge of my bed with the bag clutched in my hand. The sterile insertion kit was where I’d left it, in my nightstand draw. I pulled it out and unwrapped the syringe. For a moment, I just stared at it, this little piece of medical equipment that could change my entire life. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. This was it. Another chance at becoming a mom.
With trembling fingers, I opened the bag and removed the small container inside. It was warm, a reminder of how recently Harle had produced it. I felt my cheeks flush at the thought. Of course, I started picturing the process. Did he do it in bed? In the shower? In his truck? Naked, or with his clothes on?
“Stop it, you freak.”
This was just biology, I reminded myself. Clinical. Practical. I prepared the syringe and lay back on the bed, positioning a pillow under my hips and spreading my legs.
With my hands still shaky, I positioned the syringe.
“Get it together, Cass,” I muttered to myself as I pushed the blunt, rubber tip inside me. It wasn’t the worst feeling in the world as I squeezed my eyes shut and gently depressed the other end. It was over in seconds, leaving me lying there, staring at the ceiling, willing the little swimmers to do their job.
As I waited, my mind drifted back to Harle. The way he’d looked at me on the porch, how his t-shirt had clung to his muscular frame. I felt a flush creep up my neck that had nothing to do with the procedure I’d just completed.
“This is ridiculous.” My voice echoed around my empty bedroom. “He’s just the donor. That’s all.”
It didn’t matter how many times I told myself that it was just science, or biology, or whatever. Because that wasn’t really all. He was kind, thoughtful, and let’s face it, ridiculously hot. And he was coming back tomorrow.
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. What was I getting myself into?
I pushed through the creaky double doors of Lacey’s Bar & Grill. The scent of beer and burgers hit first, then the familiar buzz of chatter and clinking glasses washing over me like a warm hug, mingling with the faint twang of an old country song crackling from the juke box.
I spotted the girls right away. A whole cluster of them laughing it up around a high-top near the back. Of course, they’d snagged the spot with the best view of the pool tables and the stage.
I weaved through the Friday night crowd, my shoes sticking to the worn, stained carpet as I went.
“Cass!” Poppy’s pink hair bounced as she waved, her blue eyes sparkling. She’d traded her usual flour-covered apron for a cute floral dress that highlighted her curves.
Emily stretched her long frame from her perch on the bar stool to pull me in for a hug, her beauty queen looks on full display. “Hey, you.”
“Hey. Sorry I’m late.”
“Hiya.” Maya’s park ranger uniform was replaced with jeans and a nice jacket that showed off her tall, athletic build. Since she was stuck on the other side of the table, she settled for raising her glass at me.
Emily’s cousin Mia was next, her gray eyes crinkling at the corners when she smiled at me. Her wavy brown hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and her sales manager persona was nowhere in sight. “You’re not that late. Only a few minutes. It was just that I had a shit day and couldn’t wait.”
“Oh no! Tell me about it in a second. Hi Annie.”
Annie gave me a shy smile from behind her own glass, her light brown hair falling forward to frame her pale face. You could take the librarian from the library and plunk her down in a bar, but she’d always be a librarian.
“Where’s Aiden?”
The way her eyes lit up at the mention of her new partner’s name made me smile. “Just at home, working.”
“Got another best seller brewing, does he?”
“I hope so!”
“Let me scoot over.” Annie’s twin sister, Samara shifted her slim frame to make room. If you looked up the word grace, you’d see a picture of Samara, or Sammy as we usually called her. I guess that was the dancer in her.
I slid onto the open stool, warmth spreading through my chest at being surrounded by these women. We’d known each other since high school and even though they were a few years younger than me, and Hannah’s friends first, they’d never made me feel like an outsider, or like they didn’t want me there.
“Hannah not here yet?”
“No, she texted to say she got caught up and to start without her.”
As if summoned by our conversation, Hannah burst through the doors. Her curly hair was wild, like she’d been running her hands through it, and her face was a thundercloud. She stalked across the room, her boots thudding against the floor.
Maya’s eyebrows shot up. “Whoa, what bug crawled up your ass?”
Hannah’s blue eyes flashed. “Dex fucking Jones that’s what.”
“Hmm, kinky,” Emily quipped, earning herself a death glare from my sister.
Hannah’s shoulders sagged. “I need a drink.” She turned to me. “You want one too, Cass?”
“Sure, I’ll come with you.” I slid off my stool, grateful for the chance to get the scoop on whatever had my little sister so riled up.
We squeezed through the crowd to the bar. Hannah leaned against the sticky surface, drumming her fingers impatiently. I nudged her with my elbow.
“So, you gonna tell me what Dex did, or do I have to guess?”
Hannah’s jaw clenched. “I’ll tell you all at once, if that’s okay. I don’t think I can go through it twice.”
The bartender finally noticed us. “Hey, ladies. What’ll it be?”
“Hey, Cooper. Two whiskey sours, please.”
I grabbed Hannah’s wrist. “Not for me!”
“Oh, fuck. Sorry. One whiskey sour and a fucking Ribena juice, I guess.”
I had to laugh at that. “I’ll just have a diet soda, thanks, Coop.”
“Coming right up.”
While Cooper got our drinks, I turned back to Hannah. “Since when do you drink whiskey?”
“Since Dex Jones decided to be a dick,” she muttered.
“He’s honestly not that bad. I don’t know why you dislike him so much.”
“Wait ‘til I tell you what he went and did! Then you’ll change your mind.”
No one on the planet riled my baby sister up as much as Dex Jones. Lucky for her, I knew just what to say to distract her.
“In the meantime, Harle came by again today.”
Rubbing her hands over her face, Hannah gave me a contrite look. “Man, I’m fucking hopeless today. I knew that was happening. How did it go?”
“Great. You know, dropped off his sample and left.”
“Didn’t hang around to help you…”
I rolled my eyes. “No, you weirdo. But he did say he’d be happy to come by tomorrow, to give me another sample.”
“That’s really nice of him!”
“Yeah, it is.”
Our drinks arrived, Hannah paid and turned around, ready to head back to the group.
I grabbed her arm. “Wait. I’ve got a problem.”
“What is it?”
“How do I explain this?” I raised my glass.
“Oh, um, yeah. You’re on a detox?”
Making air quotes with the fingers of one hand, I said, “I was on a detox last month, remember?”
“That’s right. Shit. Okay, lemme think. How about you just tell them the truth? You know they’ll be supportive. They love you.”
Instant head shake to that option. “I can’t, Han, it’s too…” Embarrassing. Shameful. Proof that I’d well and truly given up any thought of another long term, committed relationship. They’d all rallied around me when the other one fell apart, but they didn’t know all the gory details. I hoped they never would. Hannah didn’t even know the full story.
“Sorry. I know how you feel about it and I shouldn’t push you. It’s your business. You don’t have to tell anyone anything. But now they’re all looking at us, wondering why we’re taking so long. Let’s just head over and I’ll think of something on the fly.”
When we got to the table, before Hannah had even opened her mouth, Maya gestured to my glass. “You back on that cleanse thing?”
“Yeah. Thought I needed it.”
“I might get the details from you, if you don’t mind. I could do with something like that.”
“Sure, I’ll dig it out.”
“Great! Thanks. Now, Han, fill us in on why you’re all hot under the collar.”
Well, that was easy. Thank fuck.
“Dex. I fucking hate him.”
“Honestly, he is not that bad. Plus, he’s really hot, if you go for the broody, serious type. Which I most emphatically do.”
“Don’t say that, Mia! You’ll only set her off more!” I put in hastily.
“Wait til you hear the latest.” The scowl was back with a vengeance.
“We’re all ears.”
“He bought a 1957 Chev Bel Air!”
When she didn’t elaborate, Maya, ever the supportive one, said, “What an asshole.”
Hannah took a big sip of her whiskey sour and slammed the glass down. “Right?”
“Um, I’m a bit confused. Why is he an asshole for buying a car?” Annie asking the hard questions.
“Because that’s my car! I’ve always wanted one of those!”
“Oh. Well, that is shitty of him.”
“It gets worse!” Another big sip. “He told me I was going to work on it with him. Didn’t ask, mind you! Told me. Because I’m the best in the shop at doing the really delicate rewiring work.”
“I honestly can’t stand this guy.”
“Yeah, me either.”
It was very clear that Emily and Maya were just humoring Hannah, but she didn’t realize. “Thank you! He’s such an ass. And now I’m going to be staying back after hours, just him and me…”
Maya raised her brows, green eyes shining mischievously. “Working on a passion project.”
Mia’s lips twitched. “Vibing.”
Emily gave a wicked grin. “Just two hotties, all alone at night.”
“With hot weather just around the corner,” Poppy added, fanning herself dramatically.
Sammy tilted her head, feigning innocence. “He’ll definitely need to take his shirt off to work.”
Hannah gulped down the last of her whiskey and narrowed her eyes. “Har har. It’s not arriving for months, but still, fuck the lot of you. I need another drink.”
The moment Hannah was out of earshot, Maya pulled her wallet out. “I’m putting a fiver on them banging. Who’s in?”
Emily tapped her finger to her lips, a devious glint in her brown eyes. “How about we make it interesting. How long do we give them before it starts?”
“Oooh, good one,” Poppy chimed, tossing her hair.
“Two weeks,” Sammy put in confidently.
I laughed. “No way! She’ll hold out, for sure.”
“A month?” Maya challenged, winking.
“Yeah, at least,” I countered.
Mia held up her hand, ticking off imaginary weeks with her fingers. “Okay, I’m gonna say six weeks, then.”
“I’ll go eight,” Poppy declared, crossing her arms like she’d solved a mystery.
“Put me down for five,” Emily said with a smirk.
Maya leaned back, sizing up the odds. “I’ll stick with four weeks.”
Sammy tapped the table, calculating. “Well, it might not be two weeks, but she won’t last long, so I’ll split the difference and say three weeks.” She cocked a brow at me. “You in, Cass?”
“Against my own sister? I wouldn’t dare.”
“How about you, Annie?”
Annie bit her lip, trying not to laugh. “Leave me out of it, thanks all the same.”